{{Short description|Indian Jain nun (1937–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox religious biography | honorific-prefix = Acharya | name = Chandana | image = Acharya Shri Chandanaji.jpg | image_size = 220px | caption = Acharya Shri Chandanaji | religion = Jainism | official_name = | birth_name = Shakuntala | birth_date = {{birth date|1937|1|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Chaskaman, Bombay Presidency, British India | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|4|22|1937|1|26|df=y}} | death_place = Pune, Maharashtra, India | alma_mater = 'Shastri’ in the subjects of Navya-Nyaya and Vyakaran from Banaras Hindu University. | parents = | initiation_name = Sadhvi Chandana | initiator = Pujya Gurudev Upadhyay Amar Muniji Maharaj | website = {{URL|www.veerayatan.org}} }} {{Jainism }}

'''Acharya Chandana''' (born '''Shakuntala'''; 26 January 1937 – 22 April 2026), known as '''Tai Maharaj''' by her devotees, was an Indian Jain nun of the Amarmuni Sampradaya. Chandana is the first Jain sadhvi (female renunciant) to be awarded the title of Acharya <ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Christopher Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_9i_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10 |title=Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age |last2=Long |first2=Jeffery D. |last3=Reading |first3=Michael |date=2019-12-15 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4985-6485-4 |language=en}}</ref> and the Padma Shri.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-01-29 |title='Padma Shri' Acharya Chandna: Jain sadhvi who walks non-conformist path towards spirituality |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/padma-shri-acharya-chandna-jain-sadhvi-who-walks-non-conformist-path-towards-spirituality-1075941.html |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> Chandana is known for her social engagement and for popularising the notion of 'seva' (human service) among the Jain community. She is the founder of Veerayatan, a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Rajgir with centers in over ten countries.<ref name="Titze">{{cite book |last1=Titze |first1=Kurt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=loQkEIf8z5wC&pg=PA270 |title=Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-violence |last2=Bruhn |first2=Klaus |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1998 |isbn=978-81-208-1534-6 |pages=270}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=50 वर्षों से बिहार में मानव सेवा कर रही हैं महाराष्‍ट्र की आचार्य चंदना जी, मिला पद्मश्री सम्‍मान |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/patna-city-acharya-chandana-of-maharashtra-who-has-been-doing-human-service-in-bihar-for-50-years-will-be-honored-with-padma-shri-22414104.html |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Dainik Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

== Early life == right|thumb|upright=1|Construction of the 'Divine World' at Palitana

On 26 January 1937, Chandana was born as Shakuntala, in the Kataria family in the village of Chaskaman in the Pune district of Bombay Presidency. Her mother was Premkunwar Katariya, and her father was Manikchand Katariya. She received formal education until the third grade.<ref>{{Cite web |title=बिहार को कर्मभूमि बनाकर 53 सालों से मानव सेवा कर रहीं आचार्य चंदना, केंद्र ने पद्मश्री से नवाजा |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hindi/bihar/state/nalanda/acharya-chandana-shri-honored-with-padma-shri-by-central-government/bh20220126221517883 |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=ETV Bharat News |date=26 January 2022 |language=hi}}</ref> From childhood, she longed to aid and serve those in need.<ref>{{Citation |title=Acharya Chandana Shri को मिला Padmashri, Maharashtra में जन्मी शकुंतला Bihar में बनीं आचार्यश्री | date=29 January 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7_IcMTGA-Q |language=en |access-date=2022-12-20}}</ref>

== Monastic life == Shakuntala's maternal grandfather persuaded her to be initiated as a sadhvi by Sumati Kunvar. At the age of fourteen, she received Jain diksha and was named sadhvi Chandana.<ref name=":1" /> She took a 12-year vow of silence to study Jain teachings, the meaning and purpose of life, and other religions. She obtained degrees of Darshan Acharya from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai, Sahitya Ratna from Prayag, and a master's degree from Pathardi Dharmik Pariksha Board. Chandana received the title of Shastri from Banaras Hindu University in the fields of Navya-Nyaya and Vyakaran.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sampathkumar |first=Srinivasan |title=Padma Awards 2022 - Padma Shri Acharya Chandana ji |url=https://www.sampspeak.in/2022/01/padma-awards-2022-padma-shri-acharya.html |access-date=2022-12-20}}</ref>

In 1968, she left the order she was initiated into and joined the lineage of Amar Muni.<ref name=":0" />

In 1987, Amar Muni bestowed the rank of Acharya to Chandana. She became the first Jain sadhvi to be appointed this title, which was met with criticism from some in the Jain community.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Wiley">{{cite book |last=Wiley |first=Kristi L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUz9o-EKTpwC&pg=PA32 |title=The A to Z of Jainism |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-8108-6821-2 |page=32 |accessdate=4 July 2013}}</ref>

In 1998, Chandana delivered the opening prayer at the National Federation of Asian Indians of North America convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the only known female renunciant in Jainism's history to do so. The mayor of Cleveland honored her with an award for helping to spread peace.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Butalia |first1=Tarunjit Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRFePtMXjT8C&pg=PA369 |title=Religion in Ohio: Profiles of Faith Communities |last2=Small |first2=Dianne P. |date=2004 |publisher=Ohio University Press |isbn=978-0-8214-1551-1 |language=en}}</ref>

== Veerayatan == In 1973, Chandana, at the age of 36, established Veerayatan in Rajgir, under the spiritual guidance of Amarmuni.<ref name="Titze" /> Veerayatan was founded on the occasion of Mahavira's 2500th Nirvana Mahotsav.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |author=Farrukh Nadim|date=8 Mar 2014 |title=Veerayatan to open 200 schools {{!}} Patna News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/veerayatan-to-open-200-schools/articleshow/31640522.cms |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The word "veer ayatan" is a combination of two words: "Veer" (meaning "Mahavira") and "ayatan" (meaning "sacred place").<ref name="Titze" /> The organization's three primary focal areas are "seva" (humanitarian service), "shiksha" (education), and "sadhana" (spiritual-development). The only Jain organization that promotes the concept of "seva" is Veerayatan.<ref name=":0" /> It has centres in India, United Arab Emirates, East Africa, and Singapore. At the beginning of 1990, the organisation expanded its work in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Kenya.<ref name=":0" /> thumb|Relief Work at Veerayatan, Kutch

In 1982, Chandana was instrumental in the design and development of the Brahmi Kala Mandiram art museum. (BKM).<ref>{{Cite web |title=MUSEUM |url=https://veerayatan-intl.org/museum/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brahmi Kala Mandiram – Veerayatan |url=https://veerayatan.org/causes/brahmi-kala-mandiram/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1984, Netra Jyoti Seva Mandiram (NJSM), was established to provide free eye care. Today, over 2 million patients have been treated at NJSM.<ref name=":2" /> Veerayatan also established free orthopedic clinics that provided free prosthetic limbs and participated in anti-polio campaigns.<ref name=":0" />

The Veerayatan foundation operates schools in Lachhuar and in Pawapuri. It also operates a BEd college in Pawapuri.<ref name=":2" /> It operates two primary and one secondary educational institution, as well as an institute of pharmacy that offers undergraduate and graduate programs, an institute of management and computer applications that offers undergraduate programs, and an institute of engineering, management, and research that offers graduate and diploma programs in Kutch district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kutch {{!}} Veerayatan |url=https://veerayatan.org/kutch/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Veerayatan set up emergency relief camps and programs to help people get back on their feet after the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, the tsunami in India in 2004, the Surat floods in 2006, the Kosi River floods in Bihar in 2008, and the Nepal earthquake in 2015.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |date=8 April 2001 |title=Makeshift Schools Ease Trauma of India Quake |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/world/makeshift-schools-ease-trauma-of-india-quake.html}}</ref>

== Other work == In 1980, Chandna assisted in the establishment of a museum at the Leicester Jain Centre in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History – Jain Centre Leicester |url=https://www.jaincentreleicester.com/about/our-history/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

She was also a member of Selection Jury of Mahaveer Awards presented by Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, Chennai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation Announced Winners for the 24th Mahaveer Awards 2021 |url=https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/bhagwan-mahaveer-foundation-announced-winners-for-the-24th-mahaveer-awards-2021-121083101213_1.html}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2012/jun/27/mahaveer-award-winners-announced-381071.html | title=Mahaveer Award winners announced | date=27 June 2012 }}</ref>

== Death == Chandana died on 22 April 2026, at the age of 89.<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/founder-of-jain-outfit-veerayatan-passes-away/articleshow/130455951.cms Founder of Jain outfit Veerayatan passes away]</ref>

== Recognition and awards == * On 26 January 2022, Chandana was awarded Padma Shri Award, the fourth-highest civilian award by the Indian government, for her contribution to humanitarian service and social work.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |author=Piyush Tripathi|date=26 Jan 2022 |title=Padma Shri For Shaibal, Jain Spiritual Leader Chandanaji {{!}} Patna News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/padma-shri-for-shaibal-jain-spiritual-leader-chandanaji/articleshow/89126934.cms |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> * On 5 September 2002, she was awarded Shri Devi Ahilya National Award by the central minister, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan for her services to humanity in the fields of health, education, population, pollution control, and natural disasters through Veerayatan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=आचार्य चंदना जी महाराज को मिला पद्मश्री अवार्ड, गौरवान्वित हुआ बिहार |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/biharsharif/story-acharya-chandana-ji-maharaj-got-padma-shri-award-bihar-became-proud-6076148.html |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Hindustan |language=hindi}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=@theindpanorama |date=2019-07-20 |title=Harbinger of Hope and Peace Acharya Shri Chandana Ji |url=https://www.theindianpanorama.news/frontpage-news/harbinger-of-hope-and-peace-acharya-shri-chandana-ji/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=The Indian Panorama |language=en-US}}</ref> * JAINA Presidential Award was presented for Veerayatan's service in extending Mahavir's work to all through compassion, education, and nonviolence.<ref name=":4" />

== References == {{reflist}} {{Commons category}}

== External links == * {{official website|https://veerayatan.org/}}

{{Jain Gurus}} {{Jainism topics}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandana, Acharya}} Category:1937 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Jain acharyas Category:20th-century Indian Jains Category:20th-century Jain nuns Category:20th-century Indian nuns Category:Indian Jain nuns Category:21st-century Indian nuns Category:Banaras Hindu University alumni Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work